The forest was a cathedral of emerald and shadow, its towering pines stretching toward a sky that barely dared to peek through the canopy. The air hung heavy with humidity, clinging to the skin like a lover who wouldn’t let go. Somewhere in the distance, crickets chirped with a lustful urgency, as if they knew something primal was brewing in the undergrowth. Aunt Sneža strode ahead on the narrow trail, her boots crunching against pine needles with the confidence of a woman who’d wrestled nature itself and won. Her dark hair was pulled back in a no-nonsense braid, and her cargo pants hugged her athletic frame just enough to remind anyone watching that she was a force to be reckoned with.
Behind her, Roman stumbled along, his lanky frame a walking disaster waiting to happen. His sneakers slipped on every root, his oversized backpack jangled with every step, and his pale city-boy skin was already blotchy from the heat. He swatted at a mosquito with all the grace of a drunk toddler, muttering curses under his breath.
“Keep up, Roman, or I’ll leave you for the bears to snack on,” Sneža called over her shoulder, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. She didn’t slow down for a second. “Honestly, I’ve seen toddlers with more grit than you. What do they even teach you in that concrete jungle? How to order avocado toast?”
Roman groaned, wiping sweat from his brow. “I’m trying, okay? Not everyone’s a damn wilderness warrior like you. Some of us enjoy indoor plumbing and Wi-Fi. Ever heard of it?”
Sneža barked out a laugh, sharp and cutting. “Oh, sweetheart, the only thing you’re plugged into is a life of softness. Look at you, panting already. We’ve barely gone a mile. I bet I could carry you up this trail and still have energy to skin a deer.”
“You’d probably enjoy that too much,” Roman shot back, though his voice wavered with embarrassment. “What is this hike even for? Toughening me up? I’m fine. I survived finals week, didn’t I?”
“Finals week?” Sneža stopped dead in her tracks, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow. Her hazel eyes glinted with mischief. “Boy, finals week is a pillow fight compared to what Mother Nature can throw at you. Out here, there’s no professor to beg for an extension. You either adapt or you’re dinner. Now move your scrawny ass before I drag it.”
Roman rolled his eyes but picked up the pace, muttering something about “psycho aunts” under his breath. Sneža smirked, clearly enjoying every second of his misery. The trail wound deeper into the forest, the air growing thicker, the sounds of civilization fading into a distant memory. For a moment, there was only the rhythm of their steps and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Until Roman’s foot caught on a gnarled root, sending him sprawling forward with a yelp. “Shit! Damn it, why is this trail booby-trapped?”
Sneža sighed, crossing her arms as she watched him scramble to his feet. “It’s not the trail, genius. It’s you. You’ve got two left feet and the survival instincts of a goldfish. Come on, get up before—”
Her words were cut off by a piercing scream from Roman. He stumbled backward, clutching at his thigh, his face contorted in pain. “Something bit me! Oh God, it hurts! What the hell was that?!”
Sneža’s playful demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by a steely focus. She dropped to one knee beside him, her hands already reaching for his leg. “Stop flailing and let me see. What bit you? Spider? Snake?”
“I don’t know!” Roman’s voice cracked, his hands slapping at the air as if the culprit might still be lurking. “It was fast, and now it burns like hell! Right… right near my, uh…” He trailed off, his cheeks flushing crimson.
Sneža’s eyes narrowed, catching the implication. “Near your what, Roman? Speak up. I’m not a mind reader.”
“My… my crotch, okay?” he stammered, avoiding her gaze. “It’s bad. Really bad.”
For a split second, Sneža’s lips twitched as if she might laugh, but she bit it back. “Alright, city boy, drop your pants. Now. I need to see the damage.”
Roman’s eyes widened, his hands instinctively covering himself. “What? No way! You’re my aunt! This is weird! Can’t we just, like, call for help or something?”
“Help?” Sneža scoffed, her tone sharp enough to cut through the humidity. “We’re miles from a signal, and if this is a snakebite, we don’t have time for your precious modesty. Drop ‘em, or I’ll do it for you. And trust me, you won’t like that version.”
Roman hesitated, his face a battlefield of embarrassment and pain, but the throbbing in his thigh won out. With a groan, he fumbled with his belt and shoved his pants down just enough to reveal the bite—a pair of angry red punctures dangerously close to his groin. Sneža’s eyes widened, not out of shock, but with a grim sort of recognition.
“Well, damn,” she muttered, leaning in for a closer look. “That’s a rattlesnake bite if I’ve ever seen one. And it’s in a hell of a spot. You’ve got the worst luck, kid.”
Roman whimpered, his hands hovering awkwardly as if he could shield himself from her scrutiny. “Can’t you just… I don’t know, bandage it or something? Do we have to do anything drastic?”
Sneža fixed him with a look that could melt steel. “Bandage it? Roman, this isn’t a paper cut. That venom’s already spreading, and if we don’t act fast, you’ll be in a world of hurt—or worse. There’s only one way to handle this out here. I’ve gotta suck it out.”
His jaw dropped. “Suck it out? Are you serious? That’s… that’s insane! And gross! And—and way too personal!”
“Personal?” Sneža snapped, already rolling up her sleeves with a no-nonsense air. “What’s personal is me saving your sorry ass from a slow, agonizing death. You wanna argue biology with me, or you wanna live to see tomorrow? Lay back and shut up.”
Roman’s protests died in his throat as Sneža positioned herself, her hands firm and unyielding as she gripped his thigh to steady him. “This ain’t gonna be pleasant for either of us, so let’s get it over with. Try not to squirm too much, yeah? I don’t need you making this harder than it already is.”
He nodded mutely, his face a mix of dread and mortification as she leaned in. The first touch of her lips against his skin sent an involuntary jolt through him, a confusing mix of pain and something else—something he definitely wasn’t going to think about right now. Sneža worked with a focused intensity, her movements precise and efficient, drawing out the venom with a skill that spoke of experience. Roman bit his lip, trying to focus on anything but the heat of her breath so close to such a sensitive area.
“Jesus, Sneža,” he gasped, his voice trembling. “This is… this is weird. Really weird. Can’t you hurry up?”
She pulled back just long enough to shoot him a withering glare, her lips glistening slightly as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Hurry up? I’m literally saving your life, you ungrateful little shit. How about a ‘thank you’ instead of whining? And stop twitching—you’re making me feel like I’m wrangling a damn eel.”
“I’m trying!” Roman snapped, though his voice cracked on the last word. The tension in his body was building, a dangerous cocktail of adrenaline, embarrassment, and an entirely inappropriate reaction to her proximity. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to keep it together. “Just… just get it over with, okay?”
Sneža didn’t respond, her focus back on the task at hand. But the pressure was too much, the sensations too overwhelming. Roman’s control slipped, and with a mortified groan, he lost it—completely. A spectacular mess erupted, catching Sneža off guard as she jerked back, her face and shirt doused in the aftermath.
For a moment, there was only stunned silence, broken by the distant chirp of those damn crickets. Then Sneža slowly straightened, wiping her face with a sleeve as she fixed Roman with a look that could’ve curdled milk. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she said, her voice low and dangerous. “Did you just…?”
Roman buried his face in his hands, wishing the earth would swallow him whole. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to! It just… happened! Oh God, this is the worst day of my life.”
Sneža stood, brushing herself off with exaggerated disgust, though a flicker of dark amusement danced in her eyes. “Worst day of your life? Try mine, kid. I just got a faceful of your… enthusiasm, and I’m still debating whether to leave you for the snakes to finish off.” She paused, then added with a smirk, “Though I gotta admit, that was… impressive. Didn’t think you had it in you.”
Roman peeked through his fingers, his face beet red. “Can we never talk about this again? Like, ever?”
“Oh, no,” Sneža said, her grin widening as she adjusted her gear and offered him a hand to pull him up. “This is going straight into the family lore, city boy. But don’t think this little disaster means I’m done with you. We’ve got miles to go, and I’m not carrying your sorry ass. Pull your pants up and let’s move—unless you wanna see what else this forest has in store for us.”
Roman groaned but complied, staggering to his feet with her help. As they resumed their trek, Sneža’s sharp tongue didn’t let up, tossing barbs about his “explosive tendencies” with every step. But beneath the insults, there was a new undercurrent between them—a charged, unspoken tension that hinted at more wild escapades to come. The forest, it seemed, had only just begun to test their limits.
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